Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Unbridled Consumerism

Let nobody say I'm not doing my best to live simply. Paring down one's belongings is suddenly fashionable in the United States, as we all prepare to move into cardboard boxes and wait out the looming recession. (At least that's what they said on the "Today" show.)

Over the past five months I've engaged in a massive apartment purge. Fourteen huge bags of shredded paper have gone down the trash chute, a new wing has been added to the local charity shop to accommodate the former contents of my closets, and I purged my bookshelves of all superfluous volumes.*

However, as good as it sometimes feels to let go, I won't pretend for a minute that the arrival of new goodies ain't a thrill for me. Please, I'm only human. And a knitter. Apparently some of you are, too, judging from questions in the comments.

So today I'm going to light candles in front of the statue of Mammon and lead the congregation in Hymn #42, "In Heaven Be There No Credit Limits and the Good Yarn Is Always on Sale."

As it happens, Lilith herself designed the shirt, and it's available through a friend's online shop. Clever woman, that Lilith. I wish I'd thought of this one, myself.

Dragonfly Dishes

A whole bunch of you expressed interest in the dragonfly dish that inspired the dragonflies on Abigail's Kimono. I got mine from Cost Plus/World Market, which has a Web site but doesn't appear to sell them online.

Honestly, although I love how they look, they're disappointingly fragile. I'm not one to fling crockery across the room (unless the president is on television), but almost all of my dragonflies are already chipped from nothing more than normal, occasional use. I won't be buying earthenware from World Market again.

Dragon Stash Guardian Shirts and Mug

You asked for a dragon on black/dark shirts. You got it. You asked for a dragon mug. You got it.

People were speculating as to whether it's supposed to be Smaug (from The Hobbit) or Fafnir (from The Ring of the Nibelungs). Neither. Her name is Mary Alice and she's from Rancho Cucamonga, California.

Pattern Tamers

I saw these at Yarn Con, but was so busy making portraits that I never got a chance to look closely at them. But the maker, Kelly Black, was kind enough to provide me with a set to try out. In brief, they're ribbon-covered magnetic markers that can be used to mark lines or charts in your knitting books (or cookbooks, or any other kind of book).

Here's my set in use.

When I plan on toting a complicated project around, I usually make a personal-use photocopy of the chart and keep it in a Knitpicks chart keeper. But when I just want to just try out a motif–for example, a pattern out of one of the Barbara Walker treasuries–that can be a lot of bother. Kelly's Pattern Tamers mark your place–and hold the page down–without harming the book. Yes, please.

She sells them via her Etsy shop and also through six or so Chicagoland yarn shops.

Pre-Orders of 2008's Most Eagerly-Awaited** Knitting Book

An encouraging number of you have asked about pre-ordering my book. So many of you, in fact, that my panic attacks have decreased to no more than one per hour.

I checked with the nice people at Interweave Press and they anticipate Amazon pre-orders will be possible in or near May (the book itself is to appear in the fall of 2008). However, pre-orders through Interweave's own site should be available sooner than that. I'll let y'all know when that happens.

So keep your pants on, Ma. It's coming, it's coming.

My Dream Knitting Bag

For ages I'd been carrying my knitting around in a Chinese military surplus bag. I tried to pretend this was hip and cool, but in fact the thing was so bedraggled and filthy that when I walked around with it over my shoulder it encouraged passers-by to offer me spare change and sympathetic looks.

I knew I needed a new knitting bag, but...I'm a guy. For guys, picking out a new knitting bag is like beating your head against a wall, except that beating your head against a wall at least burns calories.

It's unlikely that your local yarn shop carries anything suitable. The saleswoman may insist that all the metrosexuals are carrying batik totes with bamboo handles this year, but you will know in your heart it's not so.

An Internet search on "men's knitting bag" pulls up no useful results, unless you want to follow Stephen's example and knit your own. But I don't want to knit my knitting bag. I just want to put my knitting in it.

Women who are allergic to the traditional "pink brocade kitties" styles can go to a host of smaller, slicker designers; a big name like Jordana Paige; or even Knitpicks. Alas for men, in re-inventing the knitting bag these folks have basically re-invented the purse.

Well, at last I found my bag. Or rather Tom, a non-knitter, found it and presented it to me at Christmas.

Tom doesn't knit, but he pays attention. He took mental notes as I jabbered about what I needed and the pitfalls of so many would-be knitting bags. He knew it had to be tough, top-opening, subdivided on the inside, and not too deep. He knew it had to be free of Velcro, the natural enemy of yarn.

The shoulder strap is comfortable and sturdy. There's an exterior zipper pocket so you can get at your day planner, your pen, your subway pass or whatever without opening the whole thing. It has no Velcro, no batik and no pink kitties. It in no way resembles a purse. GI Joe could carry this thing into battle and nobody would bat an eye.

And that, if you ask me, is the only reason you've never seen GI Joe knitting. He couldn't find the perfect bag to match the boots.

That bag is so much better than 99% of the knitting bags (or purses) I've seen. Yes, I'm 'allergic' to pink kitty-cutesy fabric. As soon as you tell us when we can preorder your missive, there will be a rush on all available sites. They won't know what hit them!

I've heard knitch in Atlanta is going to carry some sort of nice knitting bag that men would be more agreeable too, as in Atlanta we have lots of male knitters! I love that book knitting around, I just finished reading all of the digressions. EZ is the best.

Ooh, that's a good bag! I've been using the Timbuk2 bag that I designed, and the only thing I don't like about it is that darn Velcro. Useful in a regular messenger bag, but annoying for the knitter. :P

My knitting bag is a sturdy commuter bag made for ebag's own in house label. It has a big main zippered compartment with a side compartment for holding stuff like patterns or magazine (designed originally for newspapers). It can, however, fit a mess of projects so I tend to use it when traveling for a while when one project just won't suffice-- but I am happy for you... it always feels good to finally find "your" bag.

That Dragonfly stoneware...I have a teacup and saucer that is, sadly, chipped, and another chipped Froggy cup and saucer - both from Cost Plus/World Market. Love the styling, but I won't buy stoneware from them again either.

"So today I'm going to light candles in front of the statue of Mammon and lead the congregation in Hymn #42, 'In Heaven Be There No Credit Limits and the Good Yarn Is Always on Sale.'" BWAHAHAHAHA!!! Oh, I've got a stitch in my side again! You are too much!

BTW, I've got a Swiss Army computer bag that I love. And some luggage. Soldier on our dear butch knitter!

I keep noting that is one of the smuggest-looking dragons I've seen lately.

And now I have bag lust. Although I do have a bag that's great for hardcore lugging of knitting projects. It's rugged and protective; the main compartment zips; it has a zipped compartment on one outer side; on the other side a pocket big enough to safely hold a pattern or a book; and an adjustable shoulder strap. It's an old TWA carry-on bag.

The only problem with it is that it's an old TWA carry-on bag. Bright red with a large white logo. Doesn't stop me using it, but I tend to feel hit by lightning every time I look at it and all that red smacks me in the eyes!

Very butch examples can be found up here (Toronto) at Mountain Equipment Co-op. But be careful if you ever go there, the place is a black hole of awesome hunting-gathering gadgets that you know you would never use - but somehow, mysteriously, have a deep and sudden need.

My hubby's got one of the Swiss Army bags for his laptop (Although his is the backpack version). He's been carrying it to work every day for months now, and it's still in fantastic shape. Bodes well for your new awesome knitting bag!

"Fourteen huge bags of shredded paper have gone down the trash chute..." (cough, cough) Surely you mean the recycle bin??

If you have a thing for draons and you're ever in Dallas, check out Richard Larson's Quilting Design Studio. He has an awesome dragon quilt. You might even be able to talk him out of it... or trade... or some such [wink].

My knitting bag is a small AMPACK messenger bag I picked up in Chinatown in San Francisco. No velcro whatsoever and only one zipper on the front of the flap. I loves it lots and it's coming with me to the UK for vacation.

made myself the hermione bag from "charmed knits". felting did not exactly turn out as planned, but for a quickie knit and fun looking, especially not turning out exactly as planned, fabulous!!!! major help in our recent move, too! mine is red and black. much more red in the wardrobe- oops- different author!

OMG- I just read your "did you learn to knit in prison?" post this morning. I had a good laugh and then was off to a Dr. appointment. On the way home , I suddenly thought about it again and started to giggle so hard I almost had to pull my car over. Maybe people like this were put on the planet for comic relief.

and the Swiss army bag is great, but other colors? the other company that would make a great bag is ... I can't remember now. It has a oval swirly logo, and I think you can "custom" fit some of the straps or pockets, but the bags are durable, and come in unisex colors. MaryjoO

I'm glad I'm not the only one who can't get rid of books; my recent purge resulted in about 6 books being declared superfluous.

And I like your bag. You wouldn't even know it was a knitting bag unless you looked inside. Very different from my bag - a boat and tote bag from LLBean that's black with teal handles and has 'knit' embroidered on the side in teal.

I have several knitting bags. For take-along knitting, I use a black leather laptop bag which features a divided interior - project goes on one side and wallet, umbrella, other stuff goes on the other side. Outside pockets hold other stuff I need to get to quickly such as phone, tokens, sunglasses, keys & reading matter. I found that the best solution for me, as I prefer to carry only one bag rather than purse + knitting bag. I do like yours, though!

I love my Namaste bag even though it is admittedly purse-like and feminine. I never would look at the Namaste or Jordana Paige, etc. and think they were bags for guys. If I were a guy (or just a woman looking for something sturdy and genderless), I would probably find a messenger bag or a good camera bag and start from there.

My usual opening: I lurves you, Franklin. {ahem} Having said that - you know how Jews answer every question with a question? You know how I'm Jewish? Could that question thing be true? and "do you know anything about Yarn Con 2008? Was that the one sharing space with a Comic Book Convention? If so, why didn't my daughter look for you there? Did she? Is it cold there? Am I being ridiculous now? Should I go away? (did I mention that I lurve you?)

I know this is going to sound truly strange, but my favorite all-time knitting bag was the "Do-It-All Diaper Bag" from Lands End. It does NOT look like a diaper bag, but a large-ish duffle. It came with 2 useful bags inside, one I used for circular needles and the other for knitting tools. It has an insane number of inside and outside pockets, comes in colors like black and light red, and can be cleaned. The only reason I stopped carrying it was that I crammed too much stuff into it and threw out my back!

I think you are wise to fling the crockery. I think I tend to gnash my teeth whenever I hear dubya, which I fear is going to cost me dearly in dental work down the line. Much cheaper to sacrifice cost plus pottery -- and probably more cathartic as well.

It is nice to know that I am not the only one who throws things when the President is on the television - although I have been know to toss things whilst listening to him make a buffoon of himself on the radio as well.

Commercial Earthenware is always a poor idea for dinnerware or anything that will have much use and washing, it is generally brittle, porous, and the more it is washed the more it will chip. Stoneware and true porcelain (fired in the 2100 degree and up range) are a much better choice than earthenware, which is low-fire. Too bad, those dragon-fly dishes are very lovely.

The bag is nice, but to me it looks too much like a laptop computer bag. I have the disagreeable problem of having one bag which must do duty as a purse, diaper bag, and knitting bag. And I hate anything which 'looks' like a diaper bag. So I carry a minivan.

being a female who HATES purses, I think that bag would go down with folks of my persuasion, too. Butch is definitely a plus. (Someone ought to tell cheri (commenter) that "practical" is a euphemism for "butch".)

And those magnetic pattern thingies could also come in handy on a real book that you might want to read while knitting. So you don't lose your place while looking down to see whether you just dropped a stitch or whatever.

love the bag - i just bought a bag from a military surplus store - a "messenger" bag - military green - super butch - i'm gonna add my little twist to it though - in a few weeks, I'll be posting about it on my blog... :)

I know *exactly* the earthenware you're talking about. I got my sister several pieces, including the teapot, and my dog jumped up when I came in the door and... teapot in a zillion pieces. (God forbid they'd actually wrap it securely for me; no, no, two thin plastic bags will do. Hmph.) They replaced it at my urging, but my sister has been hard pressed to keep the rest in good shape.

Oh and btw, looking forward to your book! Congrats on the great knitting bag!

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